space in videos

Orion service module – from components to shipping

Watch in

Subtitles

Captions and subtitles are available (automatically generated by YouTube) - select your language using the YouTube player controls

Released

24/10/2018

Length

00:03:09

Copyright

ESA - European Space Agency

Description

A look at the elements that make up the European service module that will provide power, water, air and electricity to NASA’s Orion Moon module.

Made in Europe the service module is integrated in Bremen, Germany, from where it will be shipped to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the USA for testing and getting ready for launch.

Inside the Service Module, large tanks hold fuel as well consumables for the astronauts: oxygen, nitrogen and water.

Radiators and heat exchangers keep the astronauts and equipment at a comfortable temperature, while the module’s structure is the backbone of the entire vehicle, like a car chassis.

The European Service Module is built by main contractor Airbus, with many companies all over Europe supplying components.

Orion will eventually fly beyond the Moon with astronauts, the first time a spacecraft will support humans with European hardware will also be the farthest humans ever travel from Earth. The first mission – without astronauts – is getting ready for launch in 2019.